MEMOIR OF LINN^US. 
67 
without the least regard to his predecessors. He 
almost dares to place a man and a monkey in the 
same category.” Zimmerman, too, complained that 
the Swedish Naturalist, in a few years, had entirely 
demolished botany, and raised his own fantastic 
theories on the ruins of every other. 
The only vengeance Linnaeus resorted to in reta- 
liating upon his enemies, was either to treat their 
attacks with silent indifference, or to reply in pithy 
epigrams, which might expose the malice without 
tarnishing the memory of his critics. Sometimes 
he would affix then' names to prickly shrubs, or 
stinging plants, or obscure flowers ; but rarely 
deigned to make any public vindication of himself. 
His usual remark was, “ I mean to employ the 
years that Providence allots me in making useful 
observations, and not in answering the cavils of my 
opponents. The errors of Natural History cannot 
be defended ; its truths cannot be concealed. It 
remains for posterity to judge, and to that tribunal 
I appeal.” 
Some of his revilers lived to retract their calum- 
nies, and withdraw their opposition to his system 
The son of Haller addressed to him letters of apo- 
logy, expressing regret at having written against 
him. Siegesbeck, the most fiery of his antago- 
nists, also testified his sincere repentance for having 
assailed his reputation, and implored him to forget 
the wrongs which he might have sustained at his 
hands. He even .reckoned so far on the generosity 
